What is Medical Waste? Medical waste is any waste which created from healthcare facilities such as hospital, clinic, and labs. About 7000 ton of waste produced from hospital in U.S.A per day(2 million ton annually). For example, when you go to hospital,then drink soda, the can is part of medical waste. Because this garvege generated from Hospital. 85% of medical waste is regular waste such as paper, garbage, etc. 10% is medical waste(blood, sharps, needle,etc)5% is hazardous waste(radioactive waste, Carsinogenic, Toxic,etc).Mismanage of waste can harm people and environment.
2 Accidents in 1987
In 1987, a lot of syringe washed on the beach of East coast of United State. It caused beach closing through the summer. This accident became focus of government’s attention about control of medical waste, thereby creating “Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988”.Content of this act are as follows;
1.Defined medical waste and established which medical wastes would be subject to program regulations. 2.Tracking form (Medical Waste) 3.Requirted Management standard for Medical waste.( segregation, packaging, labeling and marking, and storage) 4.Record keeping requirement. Penalty for mismanagement. This act is the first act to regulate medical waste disposal.In other word, There were no Medical waste disposal regulation before 1989. Medical waste treated as regular trash long time ago.
In 1987 Goiania(Brazil), Radio active waste from local hospital killed 4 people injured 28, and produced over 200 case of detectable radiation poisoning. This hospital closed before the accident. Hospital owner sold building including all the garbage. Industrial waste disposal contractor bought this hospital's waste as regular waste.
Then accident happened. Most of victim were family of Industrial waste disposal contractor. Tnis accident bacame focus on world wide attention(How importance of keeping an inventory and monitoring of all strong radiation sources by public authorities)
Problem
"Serching for Medical waste"Photobucket.com
The problems of Medical waste was mismanagement. Mismanage of medical waste made serious effect on the environment and human.
1. Before 1989, most of medical waste treated as regular trash. Garbage service company picked up garbege from hospital just like garbege from house. Then, bariied in the ground(landfill). Landfilling of medical waste could pottentially contaminated soil and underground water. Might be pottentially result in contamination of our drinking water.
Healthcare facilities generate millions of tons of waste each year. In the past, many hospitals simply dumped all waste together(land fill). After 1989, many countries issued medical waste regulation. So now a days, Hospitals have to separate medical waste according to type such as Regulated medical waste,Hazardrous waste, etc. We called this activity as a "Medical waste management". The WHO( World health Organization) made guideline of medical waste management. This guideline is used by many hospitals.
Incinerater(still current way)
Incineration of medical waste is still common practice in many countries. However medical waste incineration is leading source of Dioxin, mercury emission.
In developing countries, still medical waste are burned by incinerator. No burn treatment (Alternative way )
Resent study shows that incineration of medical waste emit various air pollutants such as Dioxin etc. So, Now a days Hospitals take step to reduce medical waste by waste reduction and recycling. Also hospitals try to avoid unnecessary incineration of medical waste. Some of medical waste such as human body part and blood have to incinerate.( required by Law) But not all medical waste needs to be incinerated.There are 2 major no burn treatment systems: autoclaving and Microwave disinfection system. Autoclaving is equipment that use higt temperature steam combined with high pressure to disinfect a waste. After finish autoclaving, medical waste can safe to disposal. Autoclaves heat the waste using high temperature steam( enough to disinfect but not enough to burn, usually 125℃, 30 min). So Autoclave does not emit any polluted gas while machine working. Because Autoclaving is no burn treatment. Microwave disinfection systemis equipment that using microwave to disinfect a waste. After using microwave disinfection system, medical waste safe to disposal. Microwave disinfection system also does not emit any polluted gas while working. This machine is the most alternative way to manage medical waste.
Problems
Mismanagement
Lack of financial made mismanagement and poor control of medical waste. This is main reason for misma
CC: SA, Photo by Ne Touchez Pas
nagement. Hospital can not hire enough people to manage medical waste. Lack of education for employee about medical waste due to no budget. Mismanagement of medical waste threten people who working in helthcare facilities and people who live near healthcare facilities and medical waste treatment facilities. It is very important that helthcare facilities educate and train their employee about how to treat medical waste.
Medical waste incinerator generate toxic pollution
Many hospitals thought that it was safer to burn medical waste than to bury it in landfills. Since goverment create regulation in 1989, Many states
(C.C) SA, Phot by stallkerl's
turned to waste incineration from landfills. It was major alternative way so far. However to burn medical waste generates some toxicic products such as dioxins and mercury. Dioxin :Dipxin is created by the burning of PVC plastic and other materials that contain chlorine. Dioxin affects the reproductive,endocrine and immune systems, and may cause cancer. Mercury: Thermometers and batteries and many other common items used in hospital contain mercury.When we burned thermmeters and batteries in incinerators, the mercury released into atmosphere. Then mercury contaminated soil and water. Fish and other animals to be contaminated with mercury. If people eat these contaminated food, mercury damage human health. Mercury dameges the body's central nervous system, brain,kidney and lungs. Especially young children and pregnant women are at risk.
Non internet source
1.Making Connections second edition P30,31
Part 3 Future Technology
Hospitals are moving away from incineration. Because incineration of medical waste cause air pollution. Also EPA made new regulation for medical waste inciineration. It cause no more new medical waste incinerator in U .S.A. So Now a days, Many hospitals are using non-burn treatment way such as autoclave and microwave disinfection system. These
systems do not burn medical waste. So there are no polluted gas emission. However even if using these system, An enormous amount of medical wastes need to bury into land. Recently many states have landfill site problem. Because exsiting landfill sites are reaching their maximum capacity. So many states need new landfill site. However it is hard to find new landfill site, thereby increasing new technology which manages waste treatment including landfill problem. This is called that plasma arc gasification waste disposal.
Plasma arc waste disposal uses plasma arc gasification technology which uses electrical energy and high temperatures created by an electrical arc gasifier. This electrical arc breaks down waste primalily into elemental gas which called syngas and solid waste( called molten slug which can use for construction material). Most important thing is this technology does not generate polluted gas emission. Also for now,Hospitals have to separate waste according to type(Solid waste, Maedical wast, Hazardrous waste). But if hospitals use this plasma arc gasification technology, Hospitals do not need to separate solid waste and med
lightning is one of plasma arc. (c.c)Phot from Wikipedia by Sebastien D'ARCOy
ical waste. Because plasma arc gasfication brakes down both waste primalily into elemental gas(syngas). For example dioxin's chemical sign is C4H4O2. Plasma arc reach temperature as high as 13900℃. At these temperature most of waste are broken into basic element component such as C(carbon),H(hydrogen),O(Oxygen). Also13900℃ kill all infedtious disease such ashapatitis B,Cand HIV. So We do not worry about not only pollution but also infection.
Moreover, This gas(syngas) can convert to energy. So plasma arc gasification waste disposal can recovery energy from waste. Japan and France already use early type of this technology for public waste disposal system. Plasma arc gasification waste disposal is most promising technology for medical waste and solid waste.
Hawaii's future waste disposal
State of Hawaii have used incinerator called H Power.since 1990. Since H power has disposed 2000 ton of waste per day,and has generated 7% of Oafu's electrocity. Also H Power reduces the volume of waste 90% through incineration witn 10%(ash) going to landfill. Moreover H Power reduces our dependence for imported fossil oil. Through incineration of 1 ton of waste, H Power generated saleable energy equivalent to 60 galons of oil. However still Hospital in Hawaii have to separate medical waste and solid waste. Because H power can not incinerate Medical waste. So Many hospitals in Hawaii make contract with outsource waste managiment company such as Asia pacific Environmental Technology, Hawaii bio waste Inc. These companies use no burn waste treatment and plasma arc gasification disposal(However this compay's plasma arc waste disposal system does not create energy). So Hawaii's medical waste are treated by private companies. In 2004, There was a problemabout treatment for medical waste. I think that it is better that government treat medical waste. In that time, Goverment of Hawaii reviewed about plasma arc gasification technology for Hawaii's future waste disposal system. However as a result of reserch, Government of Hawaii decided to denyto adapt plasma arc waste disposal for future use. Instead of plasma arc, State of Hawaii decide to expand H power. Reason for denying plasma arc disposal system is high cost for tax payer. I think that dicision is wrong. State of Hawaii has landfill problem. Current landfill site have to close by 2012. We do not have new landfill site yet. Also it is impossible to find new waste landfill site in Oafu. So there are 2 possible solutions: export waste and creating plasma arc waste disposal system. Export waste to other state cost to Hawaii $99 per ton now. However what happen if other state refuse to accept waste ? Oafu islands going to be waste island. So solution is only to build plasma arc waste disposal system. It also solve for our dependance of import oil and landfill problem. Government of Hawaii shuold think about future waste disposal system very carefully. We have only 3more years.
Medical Waste: Basic Information
Medical Waste(Clinical Waste)sometimes called infectious waste is the waste which usually produced from hospital, clinic, laboratory and nursing home. Example of medical waste is blood, used needle and identifiable body parts etc.Disposal of medical waste is regulated by law.Because of medical waste classified as infectious or biohazard and could potentially lead to the spread of infectious disease such as Aids ,hepatitis and etc. To regulate disposal of medical waste is very important for our health and environment.In1988 U.S.government passed the Medical waste tracking Act which made the standards for governmental regulation of medical waste. Now each state has each law to regulate disposal of medical waste. The author of this web is EPA(U.S.Environmental Protection Agency). EPA is an agency of U.S government which established in 1970.EPA’s work is to protect human health and the environment.So I think that I can trust this web site.This website contain a lot of publications, guideline and information.Also this information is current(last updated on Sep 9,2008).I think that this will be a good source of basic information about medical waste.
Healthcare medicalwaste management: Basic Information
Healthcare waste (HCW)is defined as the total waste stream from healthcare facilities such as hospital, clinic and laboratories.Most of this waste is similar to domestic waste(about 75%-90%). But different between healthcare waste and domestic waste is that healthcare waste contain a medical waste(infectious waste).So we have to separate from domestic waste.Healthcare waste need a special treatment.This website explain about : basic information about HCW, risk of HCW, how to dispose HCW, and regulation etc.
This website is made by WHO(World Health Organization).WHO is one of the United Nation’s authority. This web site linked many gverment's website. Actually many country used informations from this web site. So I think that I can trust this information.Also information is current.Last updated this website is Sep 11.2009.
Part 2
Summaries and evaluation of sources
Waste from helthcare activity
This page explain about risk associated with waste disposal, reason to why waste management fail and step toward improvement. Proper helthcare waste management reduce risks (polution, helth problems such as infection). However, Indirect helth risk occur due to release of dioxins, frans and hevy metals. This products persistant and accumulate in the environment( such as soil,air etc). It will couse contamination of drinking water(ground water).
After 1989 , most of state has helthcare waste regulations. However still helthcare waste mis management frequently happened. Why? There are some possible reason: insufficient financial and human resouces and poor control of waste management.
Also this page explain possible solutions. There are no perfect solutions now. However this web page introduce some of best solutions.
This page is part of WHO's page. WHO is World Health Organization. WHO made many guideline about health and environment. Many countries and organization use these guideline and informations. So I believe that this information is reliable. Also I checked some of new regulation which issued recently. Last up dated this waebsite is Oct 21.2009.
Issues:waste management
This page explain more specific detail than WHO. Such as how to reduce waste, what's wrong with incineration etc. Most of helthcare waste is incinerated now. However, these process made dioxin emission. Also create other toxic gas which threaten human helth and the environment. Despite these danger, healthcare waste iniciration is still common procedure among many countries. Helthcare without harm together with WHO and some NGO researched and promote alternatives to helthcare waste iniciration. For example, No-burn technologies.
I found this page from WHO. This organization (Heithcare without harm)is an international coalition of hospitals and healthcare systems and medical professionals, enviromental, environmental health organizations. This web site's source came from who and other nonprofit organizations. So, I think that this information is reliable. Also information is current. Last up dated this web is Oct 09.2009.
Part 3
Issues:wastemanagement
This page already used in Part 2. Helthcare without harm website explains past through future medical waste management.This site contains a lot of introduction for alternative technology. Such as Autoclaving, Microwave disinfection system. This site explains why incineration of medical waste is wrong habit for the environment. Also this page introduces future technology in the video. This future technology (plasma arc gasitification waste disposal) can dispose solid waste and medical waste together.
As I told before, this website linked to many nonprofit organization such as WHO. Also this site listed many private company which providing new medical waste management technology. This website does not recomend specific company. Just listed company's information. So I think that this website's information is not only bias but also fair and reliable. last up dated is Nov.18.2009. So this website's information is current.
Wikipedia Plasma arc waste disposal
According to article,Plasma arc waste disposal use plasma arc gasification technology which uses electrical energy and high temperatures created by an electrical arc gasifier. This electrical arc break down waste primalily into elemental gas which called syngas and solid waste( called molten slug which can use for construction material). Most important thing is this technology generate extreamly low polluted gas such as dioxin. There are some existing plasma arc waste disposal facilities. France and Japan have already used this technology in public waste disposal system.
Wikipedia is free website encyclopedia. Compare between book and web, Website encyclopedia can updated immediately.So now a days ,many people around the world use this website.I checked some of existing facilities which are listed in article. The information is collect. Also this page linked some research institute which is operated by public fund. Their information is very useful and reliable. last up dated is Nov.17.2009. So information is current.
Haru
Medical Waste
What is Medical Waste?
Medical waste is any waste which created from healthcare facilities such as hospital, clinic, and labs. About 7000 ton of waste produced from hospital in U.S.A per day(2 million ton annually). For example, when you go to hospital,then drink soda, the can is part of medical waste. Because this garvege generated from Hospital. 85% of medical waste is regular waste such as paper, garbage, etc. 10% is medical waste(blood, sharps, needle,etc) 5% is hazardous waste(radioactive waste, Carsinogenic, Toxic,etc). Mismanage of waste can harm people and environment.
2 Accidents in 1987
In 1987, a lot of syringe washed on the beach of East coast of United State. It caused beach closing through the summer. This accident became focus of government’s attention about control of medical waste, thereby creating “Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988”. Content of this act are as follows;
1. Defined medical waste and established which medical wastes would be subject to program regulations.
2. Tracking form (Medical Waste)
3. Requirted Management standard for Medical waste.( segregation, packaging, labeling and marking, and storage)
4. Record keeping requirement. Penalty for mismanagement.
This act is the first act to regulate medical waste disposal. In other word, There were no Medical waste disposal regulation before 1989. Medical waste treated as regular trash long time ago.
In 1987 Goiania(Brazil), Radio active waste from local hospital killed 4 people injured 28, and produced over 200 case of detectable radiation poisoning. This hospital closed before the accident. Hospital owner sold building including all the garbage. Industrial waste disposal contractor bought this hospital's waste as regular waste.
Then accident happened. Most of victim were family of Industrial waste disposal contractor. Tnis accident bacame focus on world wide attention(How importance of keeping an inventory and monitoring of all strong radiation sources by public authorities)
Problem
The problems of Medical waste was mismanagement. Mismanage of medical waste made serious effect on the environment and human.
1. Before 1989, most of medical waste treated as regular trash. Garbage service company picked up garbege from hospital just like garbege from house. Then, bariied in the ground(landfill). Landfilling of medical waste could pottentially contaminated soil and underground water. Might be pottentially result in contamination of our drinking water.
2. Every year an estimated about 12000 million injections are used in the world. However, not all needles and syringes are properly disposed, thereby generating a considerable risk for injury( accidentaly stuck by needle) and infection and oppdrtunities for re-use. The WHO estimates that over 23 million infections of hapatitis B,C and HIV occur yearly. Many of these infections could be avoided if medical waste were managed(safe disposal).
Source used:
EPA Medical waste
http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/medical/index.htm Sep.4.2009
Hospital for a Healthy Environment, Hospital waste management 101
http://www.h2e-online.org/docs/summit2007datacollection.pdfSep.13.2009
Photbucke Medical wase pictures
http:/Phot/media.photobucket.com/image/medical%20waste/gdapps/Africa/Mbingo%20Baptist%20Hospital/SD530136.jpg?o=4Sep.20.2009
IAEA.Org News Centre
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2008/goiania.html Sep.27.2009
Part 2
Medical waste management
Healthcare facilities generate millions of tons of waste each year. In the past, many hospitals simply dumped all waste together(land fill). After 1989, many countries issued medical waste regulation. So now a days, Hospitals have to separate medical waste according to type such as Regulated medical waste,Hazardrous waste, etc. We called this activity as a "Medical waste management". The WHO( World health Organization) made guideline of medical waste management. This guideline is used by many hospitals.
Incinerater(still current way)
Incineration of medical waste is still common practice in many countries. However medical waste incineration is leading source of Dioxin, mercury emission.
In developing countries, still medical waste are burned by incinerator.
No burn treatment (Alternative way )
Resent study shows that incineration of medical waste emit various air pollutants such as Dioxin etc. So, Now a days Hospitals take step to reduce medical waste by waste reduction and recycling. Also hospitals try to avoid unnecessary incineration of medical waste. Some of medical waste such as human body part and blood have to incinerate.( required by Law) But not all medical waste needs to be incinerated.There are 2 major no burn treatment systems: autoclaving and Microwave disinfection system.
Autoclaving is equipment that use higt temperature steam combined with high pressure to disinfect a waste. After finish autoclaving, medical waste can safe to disposal. Autoclaves heat the waste using high temperature steam( enough to disinfect but not enough to burn, usually 125℃, 30 min). So Autoclave does not emit any polluted gas while machine working. Because Autoclaving is no burn treatment.
Microwave disinfection systemis equipment that using microwave to disinfect a waste. After using microwave disinfection system, medical waste safe to disposal. Microwave disinfection system also does not emit any polluted gas while working. This machine is the most alternative way to manage medical waste.
Problems
Mismanagement
Lack of financial made mismanagement and poor control of medical waste. This is main reason for misma
Medical waste incinerator generate toxic pollution
Many hospitals thought that it was safer to burn medical waste than to bury it in landfills. Since goverment create regulation in 1989, Many states
Dioxin :Dipxin is created by the burning of PVC plastic and other materials that contain chlorine. Dioxin affects the reproductive,endocrine and immune systems, and may cause cancer.
Mercury: Thermometers and batteries and many other common items used in hospital contain mercury.When we burned thermmeters and batteries in incinerators, the mercury released into atmosphere. Then mercury contaminated soil and water. Fish and other animals to be contaminated with mercury. If people eat these contaminated food, mercury damage human health. Mercury dameges the body's central nervous system, brain,kidney and lungs. Especially young children and pregnant women are at risk.
Source used
1.U.S.Environmental Protection Agency
Disposal of Medical Sharps
http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/medical/disposal.htm
2.Heaithcare without harm
Issues waste management
http://www.hcwh.org/all_regions/issues/waste5
3.World Helthcare Organization
Healthcare waste management
http://www.healthcarewaste.org/en/127_hcw_steps.html
Risk associated with HCW
http://www.healthcarewaste.org/en/125_hcw_risks.html
4.Wikipedia
Mercury poisoning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_poisoning
.Flickr from Yahoo!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stallkerl/2398609285/in/photostream/
6.Sanitec
Sanitec Process
http://www.sanitecind.com/The_Sanitec_Process.php
7.Wikipedia autoclave
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_autoclave
Non internet source
1.Making Connections second edition P30,31
Part 3
Future Technology
Hospitals are moving away from incineration. Because incineration of medical waste cause air pollution. Also EPA made new regulation for medical waste inciineration. It cause no more new medical waste incinerator in U .S.A. So Now a days, Many hospitals are using non-burn treatment way such as autoclave and microwave disinfection system. These
systems do not burn medical waste. So there are no polluted gas emission. However even if using these system, An enormous amount of medical wastes need to bury into land. Recently many states have landfill site problem. Because exsiting landfill sites are reaching their maximum capacity. So many states need new landfill site. However it is hard to find new landfill site, thereby increasing new technology which manages waste treatment including landfill problem. This is called that plasma arc gasification waste disposal.
Plasma arc waste disposal uses plasma arc gasification technology which uses electrical energy and high temperatures created by an electrical arc gasifier. This electrical arc breaks down waste primalily into elemental gas which called syngas and solid waste( called molten slug which can use for construction material). Most important thing is this technology does not generate polluted gas emission. Also for now,Hospitals have to separate waste according to type(Solid waste, Maedical wast, Hazardrous waste). But if hospitals use this plasma arc gasification technology, Hospitals do not need to separate solid waste and med
Moreover, This gas(syngas) can convert to energy. So plasma arc gasification waste disposal can recovery energy from waste. Japan and France already use early type of this technology for public waste disposal system. Plasma arc gasification waste disposal is most promising technology for medical waste and solid waste.
Hawaii's future waste disposal
State of Hawaii have used incinerator called H Power.since 1990. Since H power has disposed 2000 ton of waste per day,and has generated 7% of Oafu's electrocity. Also H Power reduces the volume of waste 90% through incineration witn 10%(ash) going to landfill. Moreover H Power reduces our dependence for imported fossil oil. Through incineration of 1 ton of waste, H Power generated saleable energy equivalent to 60 galons of oil. However still Hospital in Hawaii have to separate medical waste and solid waste. Because H power can not incinerate Medical waste. So Many hospitals in Hawaii make contract with outsource waste managiment company such as Asia pacific Environmental Technology, Hawaii bio waste Inc. These companies use no burn waste treatment and plasma arc gasification disposal(However this compay's plasma arc waste disposal system does not create energy). So Hawaii's medical waste are treated by private companies. In 2004, There was a problemabout treatment for medical waste. I think that it is better that government treat medical waste. In that time, Goverment of Hawaii reviewed about plasma arc gasification technology for Hawaii's future waste disposal system. However as a result of reserch, Government of Hawaii decided to denyto adapt plasma arc waste disposal for future use. Instead of plasma arc, State of Hawaii decide to expand H power. Reason for denying plasma arc disposal system is high cost for tax payer. I think that dicision is wrong. State of Hawaii has landfill problem. Current landfill site have to close by 2012. We do not have new landfill site yet. Also it is impossible to find new waste landfill site in Oafu. So there are 2 possible solutions: export waste and creating plasma arc waste disposal system. Export waste to other state cost to Hawaii $99 per ton now. However what happen if other state refuse to accept waste ? Oafu islands going to be waste island. So solution is only to build plasma arc waste disposal system. It also solve for our dependance of import oil and landfill problem. Government of Hawaii shuold think about future waste disposal system very carefully. We have only 3more years.
Source used
1.Healthcare without harm
issue medical waste
http://www.hcwh.org/all_regions/issues/waste/
2.Wikipedia plasma arc waste disposal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_arc_gasification#Yoshii.2C_Utashinai.2C_and_Mihama-Mikata.2C_Japan_.28Hitachi_Metals_Ltd..29
Hepatitis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatitis
AIDS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS
3.You tube "Richland plasma gasification"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaYkhqeGDY4
4.City of hiroshima web page
http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/www/contents/0000000000000/1111641983382/index.html
5.Honolulu department of enviromental service
How the city manages our waste.
http://www.opala.org/solid_waste/archive/How_our_City_manages_our_waste.html
City of Honolulu review of plasma arc gasification and vitrification technology for waste disposal
http://www.opala.org/pdfs/solid_waste/arc/PlasmaArc.pdf
6.Family against cancer & toxic
Hawaiian plasma incinerator fined
http://www.familiesagainstcancer.org/?id=132
7.Westinghouse Plasma gasification
http://www.westinghouse-plasma.com/markets_applications/waste_processing.php
Non internet source
1.Honolulu advertiser
Honolulu appeals state dicision to close city landfill in 3 years November 27. 2009
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911270343
Medical waste facilities to cut emissions September 17 2009
2.Making Connections Second Edition P30.P31
Medical Waste
Summary and Evaluation of Sources
Medical Waste: Basic Information
Medical Waste(Clinical Waste)sometimes called infectious waste is the waste which usually produced from hospital, clinic, laboratory and nursing home. Example of medical waste is blood, used needle and identifiable body parts etc. Disposal of medical waste is regulated by law. Because of medical waste classified as infectious or biohazard and could potentially lead to the spread of infectious disease such as Aids ,hepatitis and etc. To regulate disposal of medical waste is very important for our health and environment. In1988 U.S.government passed the Medical waste tracking Act which made the standards for governmental regulation of medical waste. Now each state has each law to regulate disposal of medical waste. The author of this web is EPA(U.S.Environmental Protection Agency). EPA is an agency of U.S government which established in 1970. EPA’s work is to protect human health and the environment. So I think that I can trust this web site. This website contain a lot of publications, guideline and information. Also this information is current(last updated on Sep 9,2008). I think that this will be a good source of basic information about medical waste.
Healthcare medical waste management: Basic Information
Healthcare waste (HCW)is defined as the total waste stream from healthcare facilities such as hospital, clinic and laboratories. Most of this waste is similar to domestic waste(about 75%-90%). But different between healthcare waste and domestic waste is that healthcare waste contain a medical waste(infectious waste). So we have to separate from domestic waste. Healthcare waste need a special treatment. This website explain about : basic information about HCW, risk of HCW, how to dispose HCW, and regulation etc.
This website is made by WHO(World Health Organization).WHO is one of the United Nation’s authority. This web site linked many gverment's website. Actually many country used informations from this web site. So I think that I can trust this information. Also information is current. Last updated this website is Sep 11.2009.
Part 2
Summaries and evaluation of sources
Waste from helthcare activity
This page explain about risk associated with waste disposal, reason to why waste management fail and step toward improvement. Proper helthcare waste management reduce risks (polution, helth problems such as infection). However, Indirect helth risk occur due to release of dioxins, frans and hevy metals. This products persistant and accumulate in the environment( such as soil,air etc). It will couse contamination of drinking water(ground water).
After 1989 , most of state has helthcare waste regulations. However still helthcare waste mis management frequently happened. Why? There are some possible reason: insufficient financial and human resouces and poor control of waste management.
Also this page explain possible solutions. There are no perfect solutions now. However this web page introduce some of best solutions.
This page is part of WHO's page. WHO is World Health Organization. WHO made many guideline about health and environment. Many countries and organization use these guideline and informations. So I believe that this information is reliable. Also I checked some of new regulation which issued recently. Last up dated this waebsite is Oct 21.2009.
Issues:waste management
This page explain more specific detail than WHO. Such as how to reduce waste, what's wrong with incineration etc. Most of helthcare waste is incinerated now. However, these process made dioxin emission. Also create other toxic gas which threaten human helth and the environment. Despite these danger, healthcare waste iniciration is still common procedure among many countries. Helthcare without harm together with WHO and some NGO researched and promote alternatives to helthcare waste iniciration. For example, No-burn technologies.
I found this page from WHO. This organization (Heithcare without harm)is an international coalition of hospitals and healthcare systems and medical professionals, enviromental, environmental health organizations. This web site's source came from who and other nonprofit organizations. So, I think that this information is reliable. Also information is current. Last up dated this web is Oct 09.2009.
Part 3
Issues:waste management
This page already used in Part 2. Helthcare without harm website explains past through future medical waste management.This site contains a lot of introduction for alternative technology. Such as Autoclaving, Microwave disinfection system. This site explains why incineration of medical waste is wrong habit for the environment. Also this page introduces future technology in the video. This future technology (plasma arc gasitification waste disposal) can dispose solid waste and medical waste together.
As I told before, this website linked to many nonprofit organization such as WHO. Also this site listed many private company which providing new medical waste management technology. This website does not recomend specific company. Just listed company's information. So I think that this website's information is not only bias but also fair and reliable. last up dated is Nov.18.2009. So this website's information is current.
Wikipedia Plasma arc waste disposal
According to article,Plasma arc waste disposal use plasma arc gasification technology which uses electrical energy and high temperatures created by an electrical arc gasifier. This electrical arc break down waste primalily into elemental gas which called syngas and solid waste( called molten slug which can use for construction material). Most important thing is this technology generate extreamly low polluted gas such as dioxin. There are some existing plasma arc waste disposal facilities. France and Japan have already used this technology in public waste disposal system.
Wikipedia is free website encyclopedia. Compare between book and web, Website encyclopedia can updated immediately.So now a days ,many people around the world use this website.I checked some of existing facilities which are listed in article. The information is collect. Also this page linked some research institute which is operated by public fund. Their information is very useful and reliable. last up dated is Nov.17.2009. So information is current.
Possible sources
1. U.S.Environmental Protection Agency
Waste-Non Hazardous Waste-Industrial Waste- Medical Waste
http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/medical/index.htm
September 4,2009
2. World Health Organization
Healthcare waste management
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs281/en/index.html
September 13.2009
3. Earth 911.COM
Tips for recycling medical waste
http://earth911.com/hazardous/medical-waste/tips-for-recycling-medical-waste/
September 7,2009
4. California Integrated Waste Management Board
Waste Reduction Activities for Hospital
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/bizWaste/FactSheets/Hospital.htm
September 13 .2009
5. Hospitals for a healthy environment
Hospital waste management 101
http://www.h2e-online.org/docs/summit2007datacollection.pdf
September 13,2009
6.IAEA.ORG New Centre "Goiania's legacy two decades"
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2008/goiania.html
September 27.2009
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Part 2
Possible sources
1. U.S.Environmental Protection Agency
Disposal of Medical Sharps
http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/medical/disposal.htm
Oct.10.2009
2.World Health Organization
Helthcare waste management
http://www.healthcarewaste.org/en/115_overview.html
Sep.23.2009
3.Heaithcare without harm
Issues waste management
http://www.healthcarewaste.org/en/115_overview.html
Oct.10.2009
4.Sharps/Sharps disposal by mail
Sharps disposal by mail.
http://www.sharpsinc.com/disposal_mail_product_page.htm
Oct.18.2009
5.Sanitec
Sanitec Process
http://www.sanitecind.com/The_Sanitec_Process.php
Oct.18.2009
Part 3
Possible sources
1.Healthcare without harm
Issues waste management
http://www.healthcarewaste.org/en/115_overview.html
Oct.13.2009
2.Wikipedia
plasma arc waste disposal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_arc_gasification#Yoshii.2C_Utashinai.2C_and_Mihama-Mikata.2C_Japan_.28Hitachi_Metals_Ltd..29
Nov.26.2009
3.Goverment of California energy commission
Georgia Tec reserch document
http://www.energy.ca.gov/proceedings/2008-ALT-1/documents/2009-02-17_workshop/presentations/Louis_Circeo-Georgia_Tech_Research_Institute.pdf
Nov.25 2009
4.City of Hiroshima web site
Naka waste treatment facility over view
http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/www/contents/0000000000000/1111641983382/index.html
Nov.26.2009
5.Government of Australia Department of the environment,water heritage and the arts
Plasma arc system
Nov.26.2009
6.Jacoby group
Geoplasma.com /geoplasma
http://www.geoplasma.com/
N0v.27.2009